PGA TOUR Executive Women's Day offers professional development opportunities to female business leaders in Northeast Ohio.
AKRON, Ohio - About 200 Northeast Ohio businesswomen are expected to attend Tuesday's fourth annual PGA TOUR Executive Women's Day. It's a professional development opportunity with the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational as the backdrop.
The event is part of the PGA TOUR's Women's Initiative, and one of 26 events in cities across the country. It is sold out, and includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the tournament held at the Firestone Country Club starting Monday through Aug. 9.
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Virginia Albanese is the first female honorary chairperson for the Bridgestone Invitational in tournament history"This is a good networking event for women leaders in Northeastern Ohio," said Virginia Albanese, president and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical.
She's also the first female honorary chairperson in tournament history for the Bridgestone Invitational.
"The Akron community takes a great deal of pride in being the host city for the Bridgestone Invitational," Albanese said. "The Bridgestone Invitational does so much in the way of philanthropy in Akron, so it is a tremendous honor to assume the role of honorary chairwoman."
The day offers presentations, panel discussions, networking and health and wellness forums. It also lets the PGA introduce more women to the game of golf and professional golf tournaments, plus ways to contribute to charity and to entertain clients.
Judy Rankin, World Golf Hall of Fame member and 26-time LPGA Tour champion, has been named the 2015 Ambassador of Golf by Northern Ohio Golf Charities. She said she was "flattered" and "very surprised" by the honor.
"I think I'm more well known for television now than when I played," said Rankin. "I guess television has a very wide reach, not just across the country, but globally."
Albanese said Executive Women's Day is a great opportunity to hear from a panel of successful women and an inspiring and accomplished keynote speaker in aviation pioneer Carey Lohrenz. She was the U.S. Navy's First Female F-14 fighter pilot, and later became an expert at team building, leadership and strategy.
"We forget that from the time you decide you want to be an Olympic swimmer or a fighter pilot or a small business owner - to the time that actually happens successfully - there's this huge learning stage," Lohrenz said. "It's at that point we have to stay committed and not give up on our hopes and dreams. That's where you separate yourself from the pack."
Last year, Donna Fiedorowicz, senior vice president of Tournament Activation and Outreach at the PGA, said for years, the tournament has attracted about 60 percent men and 40 percent women. Executive Women's Day, she said, has allowed some women business leaders to consider entertaining clients at a golf tournament for the first time.
About 70 percent of the women who attend these events throughout the country have never been on a golf course.
Midway through the day, participants will get a behind-the-scenes tour of the tournament, including the media and interview rooms and corporate chalets.
That lets the PGA market corporate hospitality venues to women who might not have otherwise considered them. Included in that marketing effort will be the message the Tour donates to local charities nationwide, surpassing $2 billion, according to a tour official.
The PGA has been able to attract women from seasoned professionals to those just starting their careers. It offers a business forum that allows women to talk about corporate successes and challenges.
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Carey Lohrenz, author and speaker, is the U.S. Navy's first female F-14 fighter pilot, who turned herself into a team-building, leadership and strategy expert. This year, Lohrenz is one of three professional speakers. Members of the trio alternate speaking at Executive Women's Day events throughout the country.
"I'm trying to share those fundamentals of being fearless," she said. "I try to share what courage, tenacity and integrity looks like in action. I talk about how to set a vision, bring your team together and execute effectively while staying resilient through hard times."